Ikigai: Using Yoga To Answer My Deepest Why

In my first subject for my MBA-Regis at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, I took “The Call To Leadership” class. I was, indeed, excited for the said class. I am quite sure that taking the MBA would propel me into greater heights as a leader (yes, I do not consider myself as a boss). And true enough, through this subject, the very first one in my MBA journey, brought me to heights of awareness.

According to its definition from Wikipedia, ikigai is a Japanese concept that means “a reason for being.” The word “ikigai” is usually used to indicate the source of value in one’s life or the things that make one’s life worthwhile. The word translated to English roughly means “thing that you live for” or “the reason for which you wake up in the morning.”

In our own translation, we can akin it to Nescafe’s infamous ad featuring Coco Martin saying, “para kanino ka bumabangon?”

For our finals, we were asked by Prof. Balgos to make a presentation of our choice to showcase our own personal leadership while considering our ikigai.

I was quite certain that most of my competitive classmates will be showcasing their achievements in their own respective companies.

Some did. But most didn’t.

Just like everyone else, I went on the other direction and focused my personal leadership not in the company that I am working for as a Content Manager but with my works in my noble causes. And yes, that includes my blog.

I paralleled my passion as an advocacy blogger focusing on HIV awareness, LGBT issues, and the purchasing power of the pink peso. Now, allow me to show you the video and does its talking instead.

After my presentation, Prof. Balgos told me to blog about it. That was like 8 months ago. And this is the only time I am able to do this because of the other subjects that I am taking now.

Moreover, I showed this video to one of my all-time favorite professors, Dr. Ruben Encarnacion, our professor for Human Resource Management class. A few months after our session with him, I was so delighted to see his post:

And I hope that this will inspire you as leaders to choose a specific cause close to your heart and use your MBA (or whatever learning you have) and contribute for its betterment in the greater scheme of things.

Joemar is the Blogger-In-Chief of BaklaPoAko.Com. He is currently a graduate student in University of the Philippines Open University. He also studied at Maquillage Professionnel School of Makeup Artistry and School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA). He is a bold advocate of education, environment and LGBT issues. An earner, dreamer and a lover. Before he was once a dream-sprouting seed. Now he's a tree in his renaissance and will always be evergreen. Hear him speak with his intelligent guide for gay news of the Philippines and worldwide, Bakla Po Ako. Confirmed!.Follow him on Twitter @belleza_joemar. Gay it forward!

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Joemar is the Blogger-In-Chief of BaklaPoAko.Com. He is currently a graduate student in University of the Philippines Open University. He also studied at Maquillage Professionnel School of Makeup Artistry and School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA). He is a bold advocate of education, environment and LGBT issues. An earner, dreamer and a lover. Before he was once a dream-sprouting seed. Now he's a tree in his renaissance and will always be evergreen. Hear him speak with his intelligent guide for gay news of the Philippines and worldwide, Bakla Po Ako. Confirmed!. Follow him on Twitter @belleza_joemar. Gay it forward!